The Sovereign Covenant

 


SOVEREIGN: possessing supreme or ultimate power.


COVENANT: an agreement held to be the basis of a relationship of commitment with God.

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Kenneth Copeland once penned these words:

            “LOOK OUT! THE GIANT IS BACK. AND HE’S THREATENING THE CHILDREN OF GOD WITH POVERTY, SICKNESS, FAILURE AND DEATH. BUT DON’T LET HIM SCARE YOU. YOU’VE GOT A SECRET WEAPON. IT ONCE TURNED A SHEPHERD BOY INTO A BEAR-BUSTING, LION-KILLING, GIANT-SLAYING CHAMPION. IT’S CALLED...A COVENANT OF BLOOD.


Listen: we not only have the “covenant of blood” ---- we have it with the Most High, Sovereign God! And this is the assurance we have that carries us through each and every event that comes our way!


Israel was a nation that lived by and relied on their covenant with God. Those who knew their God and the integrity of their covenant with Him were mighty and did exploits in His Name.

David was the prime example in the Old Testament.


He credited his covenant with God as the power behind his ability to slay the lion, the bear, and the giant. Listen to 1 Samuel 17:34-37:

BUT DAVID SAID TO SAUL, "YOUR SERVANT USED TO KEEP HIS FATHER'S SHEEP, AND WHEN A LION OR A BEAR CAME AND TOOK A LAMB OUT OF THE FLOCK, 35 I WENT OUT AFTER IT AND STRUCK IT, AND DELIVERED THE LAMB FROM ITS MOUTH; AND WHEN IT AROSE AGAINST ME, I CAUGHT IT BY ITS BEARD, AND STRUCK AND KILLED IT. 36 "YOUR SERVANT HAS KILLED BOTH LION AND BEAR; AND THIS UNCIRCUMCISED PHILISTINE WILL BE LIKE ONE OF THEM, SEEING HE HAS DEFIED THE ARMIES OF THE LIVING GOD." 37 MOREOVER DAVID SAID, "THE LORD, WHO DELIVERED ME FROM THE PAW OF THE LION AND FROM THE PAW OF THE BEAR, HE WILL DELIVER ME FROM THE HAND OF THIS PHILISTINE." AND SAUL SAID TO DAVID, "GO, AND THE LORD BE WITH YOU!"


In those days, circumcision was the ‘sign’ of the covenant. By calling Goliath uncircumcised, David was making a very pointed statement:

HE MAY BE A GIANT; HE MAY BE STRONG; BUT HE HAS NO COVENANT WITH GOD, AND THAT’S WHY I CAN KILL HIM!

And, of course, David courageously slew Goliath in the Name of the Lord----because of his covenant. Now, the “sign” of the covenant was circumcision. But blood was required from sacrificed animals so that the ‘covenant’ was deliberate AND un-changing! Why? BECAUSE LIFE IS IN THE BLOOD!!!


Blood agreements were very serious and solemn in Abram’s day. That’s why

God chose to make a covenant with him. God convinced Abram that His promises were true; and that He desired an unbreakable relationship with Abram AND his children after him. And one of the reasons this was so interesting is because Abraham’s wife, Sarah, had already passed child-bearing years. God wanted Abram to know that He loved him and that He would care for him, not because He “had” to, but because He wanted to. And Romans 4:21 tells us that he got the message! Abram’s very name was changed to Abraham because it meant “father of many nations.” And, of course, we know the story of Isaac’s birth.



Now - the Book of Hebrews promises that we have an even better covenant than David or Abraham had! Our covenant has better promises. And, of course, we know this because WE are covered with the Blood of Jesus!


If you read Deuteronomy the 28th chapter, you’ll find the blessings that are promised to those who keep the terms of the agreement. They’re wonderful! But keep reading and you will also find the curse that fell on those who broke the agreement.


Now! From the time Jesus was born until He died at Calvary, He never broke the terms of the covenant. Yet when He went to the Cross, He bore the curse, or penalty, for breaking it! Why?

So that we would never have to bear it!!!

Galatians 3:13-14 (NKJV) CHRIST HAS REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW, HAVING BECOME A CURSE FOR US (FOR IT IS WRITTEN, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"), 14 THAT THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM MIGHT COME UPON THE GENTILES IN CHRIST JESUS, THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT THROUGH FAITH.


 I apply the blood-rescue that took place at the death of Jesus Christ on the cross to Eagle’s Flight Ministries members. I declare, in Jesus' Name, that every curse that has been used against us is now broken and null and void because He took upon Himself the curse for our wrongdoing.


Listen:

Every demonic and diabolical thing that could ever come against you during this life-time was placed on Jesus when He went to the Cross. HE bore the penalty for your sin!


He totally stripped the devil of his power to harm you. He bore the curse for you so that you could receive the blessing of Abraham through faith in Jesus Christ!


You see - Jesus was not only the blood-sacrifice, but He also became our “Representative” - the Mediator between God and man! 1 John 2:1 says WE HAVE AN ADVOCATE WITH THE FATHER, JESUS CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS. Not only are we forgiven when we confess our sins, He cleanses us! That means those sins are FORGOTTEN! Expunged - which means obliterated; completely removed FOREVER!! Hallelujah! Thank You, Lord Jesus.



When you understand ‘covenant’ terminology, you can see the thread of a covenant relationship woven all throughout the New Testament.

Ephesians 6:10-11 (NKJV) FINALLY, MY BRETHREN, BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT. 11 PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST THE WILES OF THE DEVIL.

See - this isn’t saying you will never be tempted again. But it DOES say YOU WIN WHEN you ‘fight - right’!!


Ephesians 6:13-17 (NKJV) THEREFORE TAKE UP THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND IN THE EVIL DAY, AND HAVING DONE ALL, TO STAND. 14 STAND THEREFORE, HAVING GIRDED YOUR WAIST WITH TRUTH, HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15 AND HAVING SHOD YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16 ABOVE ALL, TAKING THE SHIELD OF FAITH WITH WHICH YOU WILL BE ABLE TO QUENCH ALL THE FIERY DARTS OF THE WICKED ONE. 17 AND TAKE THE HELMET OF SALVATION, AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD;


And the 18th verse in the NIV says:

AND PRAY IN THE SPIRIT ON ALL OCCASIONS WITH ALL KINDS OF PRAYERS AND REQUESTS. WITH THIS IN MIND, BE ALERT AND ALWAYS KEEP ON PRAYING FOR ALL THE SAINTS.


Listen:

Jesus has exchanged His weapons and armor with you and made you strong in the power of HIS might! He exchanged YOUR weakness for HIS strength! Through our ‘covenant’ relationship,

WE ARE NOW ONE WITH HIM!


Jesus took our sin and gave us His robe of righteousness and right-standing with God. He has given us the authority to use His Name.

Mark 16:17 (NKJV) "AND THESE SIGNS WILL FOLLOW THOSE WHO BELIEVE: IN MY NAME THEY WILL CAST OUT DEMONS; THEY WILL SPEAK WITH NEW TONGUES;

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The New Covenant doesn’t depend on YOUR ability to keep it. It depends on Jesus’ ability to keep it. Just like Abraham; just like David; you have a COVENANT with Almighty God. And just like Abraham, you can become fully persuaded that what God has promised you, He is able to perform it! Just like David, you can stand on that covenant and whip any uncircumcised circumstance that stands in your way!

YOUR COVENANT IS BETTER.............IT CARRIES NO CURSE!

Deuteronomy, chapter 28, verses 16-68 gives a list of the curses Jesus Christ has freed you from! Read them and rejoice!

Jesus has already paid the incredible price for it. He became the COVENANT SACRIFICE!




Here is the REQUIREMENT necessary to fully enact AND maintain constant ‘freedom’:


 REPENT. 1 John 1:9 says: IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.

Do you realize what “repent” means? It means ADMIT; REGRET; TURN AROUND AND GO THE OTHER WAY!

If you NEVER feel remorse for wrong-doing - you WON’T repent!! If you don’t repent - you ain’t forgiven!

You can blame all your ‘acts’ on Satan all you want. He won’t mind that one bit!! You see: the “blame-game” means THE DEVIL WINS!


INVITE JESUS INTO YOUR LIFE. I don’t care how “good” you think you are. It doesn’t matter if you attend every possible event to aid others during a time of crisis. Attending church regularly and singing hymns is commendable - but it means ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IF you aren’t covered with the Blood of Jesus! And the ONLY way for that to happen is if you REPENT and ASK HIM INTO YOUR LIFE AS LORD AND SAVIOR.


WALK THE ‘WALK’ AND TALK THE ‘TALK’.

James 4:16-17 (NIV) says: AS IT IS, YOU BOAST AND BRAG. ALL SUCH BOASTING IS EVIL. 17 ANYONE, THEN, WHO KNOWS THE GOOD HE OUGHT TO DO AND DOESN'T DO IT, SINS.

There are people who absolutely refuse to be held accountable for any SIN they commit! In fact, just recently I heard a self-confessed ‘preacher’ pompously and almost unceasingly elaborate on how he was not personally responsible for his actions! EVERYTHING IS SATAN’S FAULT – NOT HIS!

Though I imagine the “reason” he talks this way is to reassure himself of his “innocence” - what it actually does is call God’s Word null and void! It also means he is NOT forgiven and continues to walk in sin!

Understand his ‘reasoning’ – yes!

Does it make him unaccountable - NO!!


Ever heard the saying: THERE ARE NONE SO BLIND AS THOSE WHO REFUSE TO SEE?

Well - keeping your eyes closed to the Truth will certainly keep you from “seeing” -

but you don’t get a Spiritual Seeing-Eye-Dog for that one!

YOU are held accountable before the Righteous Judge.

Your only Hope -

Your only Need -

is the Blood-covering of the Perfect Sacrifice, Jesus Christ